“Psycho”
Year released: 1960
Streaming service: Amazon Prime (rent/buy)
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is one of the most notable horror films of all time. “Psycho,” which is based on Robert Bloch’s novel of the same name, changed the horror genre with its iconic shower scene, which was one of the first on-screen depictions of a character being violently murdered. The film stars Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, a secretary who is desperate for a better life. Her desperation leads her to steal $40,000 from one of her employer’s clients. While fleeing the law, she stops at a motel, where she meets the owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a polite young man who has an interesting relationship with his mother.

“Get Out”
Year released: 2017
Streaming service: Amazon Prime (rent/buy)
Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning directorial debut, “Get Out,” is one of horror’s newest classics. The film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) as he goes on a weekend getaway with his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) to meet her family. As the weekend progresses, Chris notices strange behavior from the family’s Black staff. As he gets closer to finding out the truth behind their odd behavior, Chris realizes Rose and her family may be hiding secrets darker than he could have ever imagined. “Get Out” does a fantastic job of storytelling and hits the audience with twists and turns throughout the film, all while giving viewers suspense and moments of comedy.

“Insidious”
Year released: 2011
Streaming service: Netflix, Amazon Prime (rent/buy)

From the creators of the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, “Insidious” tells the story of the Lamberts, who are settling into a new home. Soon after they move into the house, weird things start to occur. The family’s young son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), falls into a mysterious coma, and the mom, Renai (Rose Byrne), witnesses paranormal activity, such as books and furniture moving. After several more strange occurrences, the dad, Josh (Patrick Wilson), eventually agrees to move the family out of the house, but the trend continues in their next home. When Josh’s mother, (Barbara Hershey), hears about the goings-on in her son’s home, she hires a medium, (Lin Shaye), for guidance. The medium explains to the family that it wasn’t their house that was haunted, but Dalton. The film’s plot isn’t groundbreaking, but it does provide scary moments and creepy imagery, and the actors playing the Lambert family have great chemistry. The success of the first film helped turn it into a franchise. It spawned three sequels that have collectively grossed over $500 million.

“American Horror Story”
Year released: 2011
Streaming service: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime (subscription or rent/buy)

When the minds behind “Nip/Tuck” launched FX’s “American Horror Story” in 2011, they probably didn’t imagine the show would go on to become the cultural phenomenon it is today. “American Horror Story” uses anthology-style storytelling that features a new storyline, setting and set of characters each season. The show’s inaugural season centers on a family moving into a house haunted by previous tenants. The following seasons include plots surrounding a mental hospital, a school for young witches and the lost colony of Roanoke, Virginia. While the quality of the seasons varies, the show is a good watch. If you are a fan of gore and shocking death scenes, “American Horror Story” is for you. Fans can typically expect new seasons of the show to air in the fall, although due to COVID-19, season 10 has been postponed and should air early next year.

“Parasite”
Year released: 2019
Streaming service: Hulu, Amazon Prime (rent/buy)
Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy thriller/horror film “Parasite” follows the story of an impoverished family, the Kims, who strategically plot to become the new servants of a wealthy family, the Parks. The movie was a huge hit at this year’s Academy Awards, making history by becoming the first non-English-language film to take home the award for Best Picture. It also earned the awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. It is a phenomenal film that deserves every bit of praise it has gotten from critics and fans.